Arch-supporting counter for shoes



y 1, 1951 M. slauudu EI'AL 2,562,514

ARCH-SUPPORTING COUNTER FOR SHOES Filed' Nov. 5, 1947 Patented July 31, 1951 ARCH-SUPPORTIN G COUNTER FOR SHOES .Morris Sibulkin and Morris Sibulkin, Jr., Manchester, N. H.

Application November 5, 1947, Serial No. 784,252

This invention relates to shoe manufacture and pertains more particularly toimprovements in arch-supporting counters for womens or misses shoes. The principal purpose of tudinal arch of the Wearers foot by providing a stiff, molded or moldable counter having an integral wing portion extending forwardly along the instep portion of the shoe and provided with a resilient pad or cushion secured to the wing portion in position to bear against the instep cf the foot.

A further object is to reinforce the padded region of the counter by attaching a metal plate or strip to the wing portion beneath the cushion, the metal being relatively pliable so that it may be shaped to conform to the contour of the counter when the latter is premolded or molded on the last.

A recommended embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a shoe equipped with the improved counter, one side of the upper being broken away and the lining being omitted to show the arch-supporting members;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe counter Wit the metal strip attached to the wing portion thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the resilient cushion secured over the metal strip.

In the particular embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration, the counter I I has a wing portion or extension 12 extending forwardly on the side which is to be located along the instep of the shoe [3. A relatively long and narrow strip M of pliable, resilient metal is preferably attached to the inner face of the wing I2 as by prongs l5 struck from the metal, as a reinforcement, but the metal strip may be omitted if such reinforcement is not desired. When used, the corners of the metal strip may be rounded, if desired, or the strip may have any desired contour.

A pad or cushion l6 of rubber or other resilient material is cemented to the counter wing l2 over the strip It. The central portion of the pad is of substantial thickness, but its margins preferably taper to a thin edge.

The counter is made of thermo-plastic, Celastic or other thermo-setting material which may be readily premolded to desired contour in a suitable molding machine which forms the conventional bottom flange H, or which may be assemthe invention is to comfortably and firmly support the inner longi- 3 Claims. (CI. 36-85) bled in the counter pocket of the upper and molded on the last during the lastingof the shoe. In either case, the counter becomes firm and'stifi upon cooling and setting after molding.

The improved arch-supporting counter may be built into a closed back shoe in accordance with customary manufacturing methods, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lining R8 of the upper covers the counter and cushion l6 and provides a smooth inner surface which is not interrupted by the tapering margins of the pad. In such shoes, the counter is usually molded on the last. Pre-. molded counters or quarters equipped with the improved arch-supporting pad may be used in making open-shank or'sandal type shoes; and it is intended that the word counter as used herein includes a quarter which is premolded with a counter reinforce.

A shoe made with the improved counter affords comfortable support and reinforcement for the inner longitudinal arch of the foot and assists in relieving fatigue and avoiding discomfort to the user. The counter is simple and economical to manufacture and may be incorporated in a shoe without special equipment or changes in ordinary shoe making practices. It will be observed from Fig. 4 that the bottom margin of the pad or cushion l6 extends onto the bottom flange I! of the counter wing I2, so that the resilient pad or cookie is secured, together with the counter flange, during conventional lasting of the shoe, thereby holding the pad in proper position and preventing its shifting if its adhesive attachment to the counter should become loosened during normal wear.

It will also be apparent that the resilient pad IS, in association with the resilient metal strip I4, not only provides a supporting cushion for the longitudinal arch of the foot, but also exerts yielding pressure on the foot muscles, so that the muscles are exercised or massaged as the wearer walks in a pair of shoes equipped with the improved counter. This action takes place automatically, Without conscious knowledge of the wearer, and contributes materially to the strengthening of the arch as Well as to foot comfort. Although the use of the cushion pad without the resilient metal insertwould provide a limited degree of massaging action, the relatively short resilient metal strip materially enhances the effect and primarily affords the long-lasting springaction which ensures continuous massa ing or exercising of the foot muscles, during walking.

We claim:

1. A counter of the character described, having a wing portion extending forwardly on the side which is to be located along the instep of 'a shoe, a relatively short strip of resilient metal attached at its opposite ends to the inner face of the wing portion and conforming to the counter thereof, and a pad of resilient material adhesively secured.to said. .wingportionover said: strip "in position to -cover saidstrip and to support the inner longitudinal arch of the wearer of the shoe.

2. A counter of the character described, having a wing portion extending. forwardly.on the side which is to be located alon the" instep'of'a shoe, a relatively short strip of resilient metal v attached at its opposite ends to the innerface of the wing portion and conformin to the contour thereof, and a pad of resilient material adhesively secured to said wing portion overusaid strip in position to cover said strip and to sup- ..port the inner longitudinal arch of the wearer .of the shoe, the counter and reinforcing strip :being. molded toshape the wing portion. and the strip attached thereto. 7

.3. .A ..counter..of .the .character .described,l havv.ing a .wing .portion .extendingforwardly .on the aside-which is to bellocatedlalong the instep of a shoe and having an inturned bottom flange, a relatively short strip of resilient metal anchored at its opposite ends to the inner face of the win portion remote from the back of the counter, and a pad of resilient material adhesively secured to said wing portion over said strip, in a position to support the inner longitudinal arch of the wearer of the shoe, whereby said counter may be-lasted into a shoe-behind the shoe lining, with the'ibottom margimof the pad and the bottom flange of the counter proper secured against l relative movement.

MORRIS SIBULKIN. -MORRIS SIBU'LKIN, JR.

"REFERENCES CITED .The following. references are of record in the 'file of this "patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

